Image Recognition Device

Abstract

The image recognition device includes an imaging means for generating an image of a subject, a local area storage means for storing information relating to a local area set in an imaging screen of the imaging means, and an image data processing means for performing exposure control of the imaging means and image recognition processing, based on the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage means, of the image generated by the imaging means.

1 . An image recognition device comprising:
 an imaging unit that generates an image of a subject;   a local area storage unit that stores information relating to a local area set in an imaging screen of the imaging unit; and   an image data processing unit that performs exposure control of the imaging unit and image recognition processing, based on the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit, of the image generated by the imaging unit.   
     
     
         2 . The image recognition device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the image data processing unit includes:   a local area image extraction unit that extracts the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit, from the image generated by the imaging unit;   an exposure control unit that performs the exposure control of the imaging unit based on brightness of the extracted image within the local area; and   an intruding object detection unit that performs the image recognition processing for detecting an intruding object, on the extracted image within the local area.   
     
     
         3 . The image recognition device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the image data processing unit includes:   a local area image extraction unit that extracts the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit as a first image, and extracts the image within an area defined by expanding the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit, by a certain amount or a certain ratio, as a second image, from the image generated by the imaging unit;   an exposure control unit that performs the exposure control of the imaging unit based on brightness of the extracted second image; and   an intruding object detection unit that performs the image recognition processing for detecting an intruding object on the extracted first image.   
     
     
         4 . The image recognition device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the local area storage unit stores information relating to a plurality of the local areas, and   the image data processing unit divides, in a time axis direction, a plurality of the images generated by the imaging unit into a plurality of groups which correspond to the respective local areas on a one-to-one basis, and for each of the groups, performs the exposure control of the imaging unit and detection of an intruding object based on the image within the local area corresponding to each of the groups.   
     
     
         5 . The image recognition device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the image data processing unit includes:   a group selection unit that sequentially selects a group to be processed, from among the plurality of the groups;   a local area image extraction unit that extracts the image within the local area corresponding to the selected group, from the image generated by the imaging unit;   an exposure control unit that generates an exposure control signal based on brightness of the extracted image within the local area, and with use of the generated exposure control signal, controls exposure of the imaging unit when an image of the selected group is captured next time; and   an intruding object detection unit that performs the image recognition processing for detecting an intruding object, on the extracted image within the local area.   
     
     
         6 . The image recognition device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a communication unit that transmits the image generated by the imaging unit to a management device over a network, receives information specifying the local area from the management device over the network, and stores the information in the local area storage unit.   
     
     
         7 . An image recognition method implemented by an image recognition device including an imaging unit, a local area storage unit that stores information relating to a local area set in an imaging screen of the imaging unit, and an image data processing unit, the method comprising:
 by the imaging unit, generating an image of a subject, and   by the image data processing unit, performing exposure control of the imaging unit and image recognition processing, based on the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit, of the image generated by the imaging unit.   
     
     
         8 . The image recognition method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the performing the exposure control and the image recognition processing includes, by the image data processing unit:   extracting the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit, from the image generated by the imaging unit;   performing the exposure control of the imaging unit based on brightness of the extracted image within the local area; and   performing the image recognition processing for detecting an intruding object, on the extracted image within the local area.   
     
     
         9 . The image recognition method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the performing the exposure control and the image recognition processing includes, by the image data processing unit:   extracting the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit as a first image, and extracting the image within an area defined by expanding the local area specified by the information stored in the local area storage unit, by a certain amount or a certain ratio, as a second image, from the image generated by the imaging unit;   performing the exposure control of the imaging unit based on brightness of the extracted second image; and   performing the image recognition processing for detecting an intruding object on the extracted first image.   
     
     
         10 . The image recognition method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the local area storage unit stores information relating to a plurality of the local areas, and   the performing the exposure control and the image recognition processing includes,   by the image data processing unit, dividing, in a time axis direction, a plurality of the images generated by the imaging unit into a plurality of groups which correspond to the respective local areas on a one-to-one basis, and for each of the groups, performing the exposure control of the imaging unit and detection of an intruding object based on the image within the local area corresponding to each of the groups.   
     
     
         11 . The image recognition method according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the performing the exposure control and the detection of an intruding object includes, by the image data processing unit:   sequentially selecting a group to be processed, from among the plurality of the groups;   extracting the image within the local area corresponding to the selected group, from the image generated by the imaging unit;   generating an exposure control signal based on brightness of the extracted image within the local area, and with use of the generated exposure control signal, controlling exposure of the imaging unit when an image of the selected group is captured next time; and   performing the image recognition processing for detecting an intruding object on the extracted image within the local area.   
     
     
         12 . The image recognition method according to  claim 7 , further comprising
 transmitting the image generated by the imaging unit to a management device over a network, receiving information specifying the local area from the management device over the network, and storing the information in the local area storage unit.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program comprising instructions for causing a computer to function as, the computer being connected with an imaging unit that generates an image of a subject and including a memory for storing information relating to a local area set in an imaging screen of the imaging unit,
 an image data processing unit that performs exposure control of the imaging unit and image recognition processing, based on the image within the local area specified by the information stored in the memory, of the image generated by the imaging unit.